The Hang

Michael Stanley is another one of those blue blood rockers that remains a bit elusive to the masses but whose music at first listen will captivate. I spent some time with Stanley’s latest album, The Hang, which features 14 tracks that spread the rock spectrum from contemporary to country pop to blues rock.

There’s it a bit of an outdated sound to some of the tracks on The Hang but contemporary tends to have a sound that seems a bit dated only because, like all music, it follows a certain tradition. There is a combination of piano, guitar, back up singers, and Stanley's voice which reminds me of artsist like Eric Clapton or David Gilmoure. On the other hand Stanley does veer off the beaten path with one or two song on the album musically while keeping it all in the same type of everyman theme. Plenty of songs about every day life from falling in and out of love, the sensuality of lust, or just moments out of the average grind. You can expect a lot of social narration on the album that fits in well with the reminiscent quality of Stanley’s words that strike a chord with your own every day travels. Stand out tracks include A Damn Fine Way To Go, Martha, and The Last Great Illusion.